your cichlids should like like they dont have a stomach...

IE its not noticeable...not sunken in, but not round. Just straight....figure
out what you need to feed to get them this way.

al wrote:

-- NEVER overfeed the aquarium. Nevernevernevernever.

I try to do this but my cichlids get a sucken stomach - and look overly thin
with small once/day feedings or every second day. I wondered if they have
some form of low grade intestinal parasite or if I just need to feed them
enough for them to have a nice rounded stomach ??

-- ALWAYS remove reasonable organic waste immediately (dead fish, dead
plant matter, uneaten food if you can get it, etc.)

ok

-- Filter the heck out of it, preferably with trickle or some other
wet/dry. I use Bio-Wheels, myself.

I have two fluval 404s in the 66 gallon

If you ARE afraid to take that option, then the weekly changes and the
monthly vacuuming aren't going to hurt anything, certainly, but I
don't see any way out of moving everything!

Well - i guess it is fear - but no doubt your suggestion probably makes for
less drastic water change effects, but is it better for the fish to be in as
pure a water as possible (ie low nitrates etc) even though they can live
with much higher levels??

I mean if cost wasn't an issue would it be best for the tank to be
constantly getting clean water with the overflow down the drain ???

Thanks

al

--Crazy Old Mark

Mark Stone tractorlegs at msn dot kom
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The ".Edu" meens i are smart.